Damien's POV

"Listen, everyone," I continued, my fist raised to signify silence. 

The Moon shining at its peak was something that had occurred a long time ago in this part of the world, after the curse was placed on me.

But suddenly, upon Scarlet's arrival--just a few days of her being here, everything changed. 

The sick were healed, and even the lame walked miraculously. This wasn't just an ordinary thing. It is just as the Moon goddess has said. Just like the prophecy had announced the day I was cursed.

Scarlet is more of a blessing than a mate. But she seems so hurt and pained by what her mate had done to her. 

How was I supposed to convince her to be my Luna when she had raised these walls around her?

Just as I saw her amongst the pack members, her blue doe eyes never leaving mine, almost caused me to trip over my feet while addressing the pack members.

"The Moon goddess has finally smiled on us after many years." I addressed them and stretched my hand towards Scarlet. 

 I honestly don't have a clue how this love story is about to begin or how it was written. But it's worth giving it a try.

"What are you doing?" My Beta, Callan, whispered into my ears, leaving me startled almost immediately.

And right now, I just lost my confidence. 

"Are you really going to ask her out in front of the whole pack, Alpha Damien?"

I rolled my eyes in frustration, staring at the pack members who were waiting for me to say something. 

My breath hitched as I clenched my fist, trying hard not to show my weakness in front of my people.

I've never done this before in my life. Asking a woman out in front of my people. 

However, yes, this is the way it must be done if I want the curse to be broken once and for all. 

"Have you forgotten what the moon goddess said about getting my Luna if I really want the curse to go away?" I turned towards Callan, my breath fanning his face.

Well, Callan is more of a brother than a beta. So we are always like this.

"But you haven't even spoken to her. I mean..." Callan paused with a smug look on his face. "I thought the last thing she said to you was that she wants to run away from this pack–"

"Can you just allow me to do this? I'm the greatest Alpha. Have you seen me? No girl has ever said no to me. I'm irresistible." I replied proudly.

Callan, on the other hand, stepped back with a shrug. But the look on his face says something else. 

I inhaled deeply, controlling the rate at which my heart was pounding–one that I could even hear in my ears. 

"I want to introduce someone to us." I started, signaling Emma to push her forward. 

"Her name is Scarlet." I started, beckoning for her to come forward. 

"Scarlet, can you do a brief introduction of yourself to my people?" I raised a brow, my face doing the rest of the talking. 

"Go on,"

She cleared her throat as if knowing what I was up to. Tension filled the air as everyone went silent. 

Turning to look at me at intervals, and back to the crowd, she started. "My name is Scarlet Underwood." 

"It's nice to be here with you all. I hope you'll treat me well," She concluded, bowing her head alongside. 

I smiled softly, walking towards her, and I wasted no time in sliding my hand inside hers. 

Gripping her hand gently, my eyes trailed down to her face, and back to the pack members.

"The sign we saw today was because of Scarlet Underwood," I explained, and murmurs filled the air. 

Small talks, and something that seems more of a disapproval, which I couldn't wrap my head around. 

"It appears that Scarlet Underwood is my mate, and my Luna," I announced, and everyone burst out in disagreement. 

"We won't have someone from the MoonClaw pack be our Luna!" One of the elders barked, and everyone supported almost immediately. 

And before I could speak, just like Callan had predicted. Scarlet broke loose from my grip.

Yanking her hand off, she turned towards me in anger. Her eyes darted back to the pack members. "I will never be a Luna to a heartless Alpha! Even if he's the last man on earth."

Scarlet's POV

I didn't know what this was, but whatever the Moon Goddess had planned, I wanted no part of it.

Without a second thought, I walked out on everyone, ignoring the growing murmurs behind me.

"Scarlet!" Damien called after me, but I didn't respond.

I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I needed to get away.

The Moon Goddess had to be insane, pairing me with someone like him.

Just then, his hand caught mine and spun me around. My body trembled as his fingers brushed against my waist.

"Let me go!" I snapped, yanking at his grip, just as we both lost balance.

He stumbled backward, losing hold of me, and in the process, tripped my leg. I fell straight onto him-lips to lips.

I stared at him, stunned, then tried to scramble away, but his grip tightened.

"Let me go, Damien!" I shouted, pounding against his chest, but he held on firmly.

His brows furrowed, then softened into an amused smile as he finally released me.

"You see me as some kind of monster?" he asked, standing up and offering a hand.

"This is how you thank me for saving your life?"

"I never asked you to do anything," I said coldly. "So thank you, and now can you please sever the mate bond already?"

"Seriously? Are you kidding right now? Do you even understand what the Moon Goddess-"

"Damn the Moon Goddess!" I screamed, barely keeping my temper in check.

"Do I look like I give two fucks about her? Huh?" I spat, tears burning beneath my eyes.

I shut them tightly before speaking through clenched teeth. "Where was she when my friend Kayla was screwing my mate?"

"Scar-"

"Save it!" I snapped, cutting him off before he could say another word.

I didn't care what he or the Moon Goddess had to say.

I was done being the fool who trusted too easily.

Done being the naive girl everyone used and tossed aside the moment I wasn't convenient anymore.

"I'm not going to be your Luna, Alpha Damien," I said, wiping away the tears streaming down my cheeks. "And it's obvious your pack agrees with that."

Before I could leave, Callan and Emma appeared, both of them looking at me with what could only be pity.

I didn't mean to be rude, but the pain eating me from the inside wouldn't let me pretend.

I wasn't healed yet, and this proposal? It was too much.

I couldn't, and wouldn't, accept it.

"You can all find someone else to be your Luna. I'm not taking part in this twisted prophecy you think the Moon Goddess gave you!" I shouted, turning to leave.

"Scarlet, wait!" Emma, the pack doctor, called after me, but I didn't look back.

"I just need some air," I muttered, pushing through the stunned pack members and shutting the door behind me.

And then I heard it.

Voices, their whispers. Each of them is talking about Kayla and Alex. My name slipping off someone's lips like poison.

"She took her best friend's mate," someone said. The words stopped me cold in my tracks.

"Seriously? How does she still look so innocent after that?" another voice added, full of venom.

"I think she just wants to be Luna by any means necessary."

And then, the final blow.

"She's a whore."

"Whore!"

They all echoed it. Like a chant.

I turned around slowly, facing the palace once again.

Fists clenched. Face burning.

No more tears. Just rage. I let out a scoff in disbelief. Staring at the pack members one after the other. "And where did you hear those ridiculous rumors from?" I started. 

At this point, I had no choice but to speak for myself. It was clear now, Kayla had declared war.

"Huh?! Answer me!" I snapped, gripping the hem of my garment tightly, trying to steady my breathing.

Silence fell. No one dared speak, except one woman from the crowd.

"Didn't you steal her mate?"

I turned sharply toward the voice, stunned. "Is that what she told you?" My voice cracked with disbelief. 

"You don't have to lie," another voice added. "Everyone knows you slept with Alpha Alex. You betrayed Luna Kayla. Jeez, she's your best friend."

"Yeah, it's all out in the open now," someone else muttered.

My heart sank.

So that was it. The whole neighboring pack knew. Every whisper, every sideways glance, it all made sense now.

"For your information," I began slowly, my voice trembling with rage, "I didn't steal her man. It's the other way around."

"Mmm, are you sure?" a voice questioned sarcastically. "Because that's not what it looks like."

My heart thudded painfully in my chest. "Who's spreading these lies? Huh? If you're bold enough, come out and say it to my face!"

I looked around, daring them. My blood boiled. My hands shook.

But no one stepped forward.

"You're all cowards," I spat. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I scanned their judgmental stares.

"We're not cowards," said the same woman who started it all.

She stepped forward. "We're just not stupid. You think showing up here changes the fact that you slept with your best friend's man?"

"Are you serious right now?" I asked through clenched teeth. "And how exactly do you know that?"

"She told us!" several voices chorused.

I paused. My chest rose and fell rapidly. So that's it. Kayla had gone all in. First, she took Alex from me. Now she was out to destroy whatever I had left.

"I didn't steal him," I said, louder this time. "She did. Kayla got pregnant for him behind my back, and ruined my weddind day."

"I bet," the woman scoffed, retreating into the crowd, clearly unconvinced. Murmurs rose all around me. Accusations, disbelief, and disgust followed.

They'd already made up their minds.

No matter what I said, they wouldn't listen. I had once thought of leaving the pack, even turned down Damien's offer to be his Luna... but now?

Now, they had given me the one thing I didn't know I needed: a reason.

A reason to rise. 

If they wouldn't give me respect, I'd take it.

And when I do, every one of them, every single one-will pay.

Storming back inside, I headed straight to Damien.

Just as I flung the door open, I stood in front of him. My breath fanned his face.

Wiping my face, I said clearly, "Help me get revenge on Kayla and Alex... and I'll reconsider being your Luna."

Scarlet's POV

The room fell into a heavy silence, everyone waiting, watching for Damien to speak.

I felt myself tense, my heartbeat quickening in my chest. I had no idea what he was about to say, and that scared me more than anything.

Then, without taking his eyes off me, he turned to Emma and his beta, Callan.

"Leave us."

They both dipped their heads. "Alpha," they responded in unison, then quietly exited the room.

Even the guards flanking him stepped back and walked away, their boots echoing against the floor until the sound faded completely.

Now, it was just the two of us alone in the vast, silent hall.

Just then, he cleared his throat and started walking toward me, slow, steady steps that made my stomach twist.

He looked massive, intimidating. The way he carried himself, so sure, so dominant, it almost knocked the air out of my lungs.

I moved back a little, one careful step at a time, feeling the heat rush to my skin. My heart was pounding so loudly I could hear it in my ears.

"So," he said, eyes locked on me, "you want to join hands with me... take revenge on Kayla and Alex?"

He lifted his hand like he was going to touch my face, but I backed away quickly.

Still, he kept coming.

That scent of his-vanilla and something else was messing with my head. I hated how it made me feel. 

Drunk.

Weak.

But I told myself it was just the mate bond. Nothing more.

Even though deep down, I knew I was lying to myself.

I could feel how wet I was getting, but I shoved that thought aside. Now wasn't the time. My heart was broken, and that was louder than anything else.

"Yes," I said, blinking fast. "Are you in or not?"

I needed to clear my name. To prove I wasn't the traitor. That I didn't betray my best friend, when she was the one who stabbed me in the back.

He looked at me for a long second, unreadable. Then said, "What are you going to give me if I do everything you want?"

He stepped in, and I realized I had nowhere left to go. My back hit the wall, and I froze.

My heart was racing like crazy. Way faster than before.

My eyes flicked from his face down to my waist. His hand was there, trailing slowly along my side.

I slapped it off and stepped back, my fists clenched.

"No touching," I snapped. "I said I'd be your Luna, not your damn sex toy."

He didn't flinch. Just looked at me, like he expected that reaction. It amused him.

And just when I thought I'd already tasted the worst of him, he grabbed me and pulled me into him.

Hard.

My body hit his chest, and I froze. His scent hit me all over again. His breath grazed my cheek.

My heart slammed so hard against my ribs I thought it might give out.

He leaned in, his lips so close to mine it was dizzying.

I've never been this close to a man before. Not even with Alex. He never touched me-hell, he never even kissed me.

"Why are you nervous?" Damien murmured against my ear, soft... too soft.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said quickly, swallowing hard, trying to push away from him.

But my chest was rising and falling fast, like I was running. My throat was dry. 

My palms were damp. And fear mixed with something else I didn't want to name was buzzing in every inch of me.

He didn't let me go.

"Damien–"

"You're scared, aren't you?"

"No."

He pulled back slightly to look me in the eye, his brow arched. "No?" he echoed. "Then why is your heart saying something else?"

Then he touched my face, just a brush, but it was enough. My body trembled.

That was it. The wall I had built around myself cracked, then crumbled completely.

"My heart?" I whispered.

And just like that, he let go of me.

He stepped back slowly, his eyes scanning me, slow, deliberate, almost calculating.

"Scarlet," he said, his voice low, "are you a virgin?"